"You [should] go after people who have illegal firearms, you should also go after ... the political warlords," Mrs. Aquino said at a meeting with civilian and police officials a day after a nationwide gun ban took effect.

The Philippines is to elect a new president, 24 senators, 200 congressmen, 73 governors and more than 17,000 other local officials in May 11 polls.

Philippine elections have traditionally been violent, with scores of people killed in shootouts between rival factions.

"As in the past...intense partisan political rivalries could translate to violent actions," the intelligence report said.

It identified eight political dynasties or clans, involved in the fight for congressional and provincial seats, as possible sources of election violence.

Nearly 7,000 men, many of them equipped with high-powered weapons, comprise the 143 private armed groups that have been counted so far, it said.